13 to Watch in '13 Update: Devon LaRosa

Saturday

Dec 28, 2013 at 11:30 AM

ROCKFORD - Jefferson High School Principal Don Rundall called it like he was looking into a crystal ball.

This time last year, the longtime school leader said he saw his assistant principal Devon LaRosa running his own school someday. Rundall even lamented that LaRosa's days as his No. 2 were numbered, the unavoidable downside of mentoring a rising star.

This year was a whirlwind for LaRosa, highlighted by the joys of two firsts - becoming a dad and leading his own school at the age of 29.

Two months before the Rockford School District asked LaRosa to take over as principal at Auburn High School, LaRosa and his wife, Brooke Norman-LaRosa, welcomed their first child, a girl named Devan.

"It was a big shift, but it's been amazing," LaRosa said. "Auburn is a really great school with a lot of good people and good students who want to do great things."

LaRosa is a home-grown leader, a Guilford High School graduate who got his bachelor's degree in history from Rockford College and two masters degrees from National Louis University.

He taught history, government and geography for four years before Rundall made him an assistant principal.

Work-life balance was key to a happy 2013, LaRosa said.

"I want to be a good dad, and I want to be a good principal," he said. "I don't want to do anything if I can't be the best I can be."